Letter of Introduction (posted January 20)
Dear Eduardo,
My name is Rylee Knutson, I am currently a junior at Roosevelt High School. I live in Des Moines and have since I was born. I come from a family of four, my parents, my younger sister, and myself. My parents both work at Prinicipal Financial Group Downtown. I have a younger sister who is 13 and is in 7th grade at Merrill Middle School. I am involved in Environmental Club at Rooselvelt, where we recycle and think of ideas to improve the community. I am also involved in R Club at Roosevelt. R Club is a student service group, where we set up school spirit activities and also think of ideas to better the community through service, we do a lot of volunteer work. I also participate in tennis, I like to play for fun, I am not competitive in the sport. In my past, I have always enjoyed my english classes as well as writing and reading. I have troubles thinking of what to write, that is my main struggle and also making my essays flow together and I am hoping you might help me with improving that. I look forward to hearing your feedback as well as improving my writing skills and vocabulary so I can become a better writer for the future.
I am excited to start writing and thank you for helping me along the way!
Sincerely,
Rylee Knutson
Hello Rylee.
My name is Eduardo Tamez Zamarripa. I really appreciated your letter and I'm looking forward to meeting you. That's great that you are being involved in the community. When I was in high school I was involved with NHS and it was a really valuable experience for me. I really enjoy playing tennis as well, but I never played it growing up. I picked it up here with my roommate at Drake and discovered how much fun it is to play tennis. Well, the first thing you should know about me is that I'm from Monterrey, Mexico. I lived there all my life before coming to Drake when I was 18. Monterrey is one of the biggest cities in Mexico. I am a junior double-majoring in News Internet Journalism and English, and I also have a minor in Politics. I love sports and I love playing sports. I played basketball from 1st grade-12th grade. So pretty much all my life. I still play pick-up basketball and intramural basketball all the time. I'm involved in a lot of different things around campus. I'm the Sports Editor for our school newspaper, The Times Delphic. You can check us up online and see some of the work that we do. I'm also the President of the Society of Professional Journalists, the journalism professional fraternity. I also work for the Iowa Sports Connection as a writer for their magazine and as a TV Producer. But enough about me, you will have plenty of time to get to know me. I think you are making a great decision by challenging yourself and being in AP English. Back home I took AP English Literature and Language, as well as AP Spanish Literature. You have plenty of time to keep working on your writing. I always felt that I came alive as a writer my senior year in high school, so you are way ahead of schedule. I'm proud to be part of this program and I look forward to helping you improve your writing. You have to remember that the only way to improve as a writer is to write and as long as your writing and working on your craft, you will see drastic changes. Have a great weekend and I will see you soon.
Eduardo
Personal Reflection on Topic of Inquiry(posted RHS January 27 -- 171 January 29)
Something I am very passionate about would revolve around Alzheimer’s disease. My grandpa was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s many years ago. I have been around the disease for quite a while now. It has been a struggle, but I have learned to that there is no way to fix it now. I would like to spread awareness to the disease, because many people become diagnosed and it isn’t something that you can fix. When I was younger, I was always really confused on why my grandpa never called me by first name, I then was told what was happening to him. I still didn’t understand why it had to happen, but it did.
Through the years, it has been tough for my family, especially my grandma, but we all seem to work through and make each other stronger. My grandpa has had his up’s and down’s but he always has a good attitude about things, which makes it easier on everyone else. He has always been good at acting, and that is exactly what he does when a big group of strangers come into his room, he acts like he knows each and every one of us. I am very proud of my grandpa and everything that he has accomplished and how he reacts to things.
Not only has my grandpa been affected by Alzheimer's but my next door neighbor has also. My neighbor has lived in the house next to mine for about two years, he was diagnosed with Dementia about a year and a half ago and it has been a spiral downhill from there. He has changed so much in the past year, it is almost unbelievable. He went from a social and fun person to someone who doesn't say anything and doesn't know whats going on. He has trouble catching onto conversations and following through with them. He tends to wander and sometimes he can get lost in his own thoughts and doesn't know anything.
Seeing these two people, who are very close to me, be affected with Alzheimer's makes me want to change the way others, who don't know anything about the disease, think about the disease. I would like to inform many others on the affects of Alzheimer's and what actually happens in the brain and to share personal experiences with others to help better understand how Alzheimer's affects more than just the people who have the disease.
Alzheimer’s Awareness is something that could change how people look at the disease. Many questions run through my head when I think about it. Can this problem be solved? Will it ever get better? These are some questions that a lot of people might ask. I would like to aware people of the many challenges that come with the disease. It is not something to joke about, because it affects a lot of people around the world. Not only does the disease affect the person living with the disease but it also affects the people who surround that person. So the big question is “Can this disease be fixed? Can spreading awareness help find a cure?
I tried to paste it on but it wouldn't let me! The attachment should work though.
-Eduardo Rough Draft Definition (posted RHS February 3 -- 171 February 5)
Memories are something that everyone carries with them throughout their lives. Memories help form who we are today. What if your ability to remember things was taken away without notice? What if you couldn’t remember what you did last week or even just an hour ago? Being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s means losing the ability remember any memories. Everything that made you who you are is taken away and there is no way to stop or prevent it.
Memories are important in everyday life; they allow you to remember important life events. Memories are something you can’t control. You can’t control remembering the important things that impact your life. For some, memories are like a movie that you can replay in your head; some good and some bad. Without memories, childhood would be something that never existed, what you did yesterday wouldn't matter because you wouldn't remember. With Alzheimer's everyday is a struggle, pretending to remember things, when you don't even know who you are. Not having memories would change life as we know it. Remembering the past is something nobody would want taken away from them, but for some theres no way to stop it from happening.
Memories aren’t only things remembered from the past, but it is what helps you remember faces, names, and places. Some don’t realize memories are used every second of everyday. Memories are what allow you to be able to speak. Without any memories, you wouldn't be able to remember what to say or even any words that describe how your feelings. Memories are stronger than you think, they have the power to recall past events of your life that you never want to forget or for some you didn't want to remember.
Alzheimer’s is the definition of loss of memories. Many don’t think about what their life would be like without memories. What would life be like if everything you ever remembered was taken away and you could never get it back.Some take memories for granted. Memories need to be cherished because without out them, life would be a different story with a different ending.
- Eduardo Revision Definition (posted RHS February 10 -- 171 February 12 )
Memories are something that everyone carries with them throughout their lives. They help form who we are. What if your ability to remember things was taken away without notice? What if you couldn’t remember what you did last week or even just an hour ago? Being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s means losing the ability to remember any memories. Everything that made you who you are is taken away and there is no way to stop or prevent it.
Memories are important in everyday life; they allow you to remember important life events. They are something you can’t control. You can’t control remembering the important things that impact your life. For some, memories are like movies that you can replay in your head; some good and some bad. Without them, childhood would be something that never existed, what you did yesterday wouldn't matter because you wouldn't remember. With Alzheimer's every day is a struggle, pretending to remember things, when you don't even know who you are. Imagine not knowing who you are, not knowing your own name, where you are, not being able to remember anything from the past. This is what living with Alzheimer’s is like. Remembering the past is something nobody would want taken away from them, but for some there’s no way to stop it from happening.
Memories aren’t only things remembered from the past, but it is what helps you remember faces, names, and places. Some don’t realize memories are used every second of everyday. They are what allow you to be able to speak. Without any memories, you wouldn't be able to remember what to say or even any words that describe your feelings. Memories are stronger than you think; they have the power to recall past events of your life that you never want to forget or for some you didn't want to remember.
Alzheimer’s is the definition of the loss of memories. Many don’t think about what their life would be like without memories; what would life be like if everything you ever remembered was taken away and you could never get it back. Some take memories for granted. Memories need to be cherished because without out them, life would be a different story with a different ending.
Final Definition (posted RHS February 17 -- 171 February 19 )
Memories are something that everyone carries with them throughout their lives. They help form who we are. A memory is an ability to store and process information throughout the brain. What if your ability to remember things was taken away without notice? What if you couldn’t remember what you did last week or even just an hour ago? Imagine your life without memories, nothing would ever be the same. Being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s means losing the ability to remember any memories. Everything that made you who you are is taken away and there is no way to stop or prevent it. A memory is an ability to store and process information throughout the brain.
Memories are important in everyday life; they allow you to remember important life events. They are something you can’t control. You can’t control remembering the important things that impact your life. For some, memories are like movies that you can replay in your head; some good and some bad. Without them, childhood would be something that never existed, what you did yesterday wouldn't matter because you wouldn't remember. With Alzheimer's every day is a struggle, pretending to remember things, when you don't even know who you are. Imagine not knowing who you are, not knowing your own name, where you are, not being able to remember anything from the past. This is what living with Alzheimer’s is like. Remembering the past is something nobody would want taken away from them, but for some there’s no way to stop it from happening.
Memories isn't only something remembered from the past, but it is what helps you remember faces, names, and places. Some don’t realize memories are used every second of everyday. They are what allow you to be able to speak. If you didn't have memories you would not be able to remember words or phrases that you use in everyday life.Without any memories, you wouldn't be able to remember what to say or even any words that describe your feelings. Speaking is something almost everyone is accustom to, but if you are diagnosed with Alzheimer's, you slowly forget the stored information in you brain untill there isn't anything left. You slowly lose your vocabulary and don't remember how to express yourself. Memories are stronger than you think; they have the power to recall past events of your life that you never want to forget or for some you didn't want to remember. If there was ever a time in your life where you were embarrassed and you didn't want to remember but you couldn't help but do just that. This is an example of something you wish you could forget but it impacted you life that the brain stored it into a memory.
Alzheimer’s is the definition of the loss of memories. Many don’t think about what their life would be like without memories; what would life be like if everything you ever remembered was taken away and you could never get it back. Some take memories for granted. Memories need to be cherished because without out them, life would be a different story with a different ending
REVISED
Memories are something that everyone carries with them throughout their lives. They help form who we are. Remembering is the ability to store and process information throughout the brain. What if the ability to remember things was taken away without notice? What if you couldn’t remember what you did last week or even just an hour ago? Being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s means losing the ability to remember any memories. Everything that makes a person who they are can be taken away, and there is no way to stop or prevent it. Memories are significant in everyday life; they allow someone to remember important life events. They are something one can’t control. Someone can’t control remembering the important things that impact their life. For some, memories are like movies that replay in your head; some good and some bad. Without them, childhood would be something that never existed, what someone did yesterday wouldn't matter because they wouldn't remember. With Alzheimer's every day is a struggle, pretending to remember things, when someone don't even know who they are. Imagine not knowing who you are, not knowing your own name, where you are, not being able to remember anything from the past. This is what living with Alzheimer’s is like. Remembering the past is something nobody would want taken away from them, but for some there’s no way to stop it from happening. Memories aren’t only something remembered from the past, but it is what helps you remember faces, names, and places. Some don’t realize memories are used every second of everyday. They are what allow you to be able to speak. If you didn't have memories you would not be able to remember words or phrases that you use in everyday life. Without any memories, you wouldn't be able to remember what to say or even any words that describe your feelings. Speaking is something almost everyone is accustomed to. Memories are stronger than one may think; they have the power to recall past events of one’s life that they never want to forget or for some didn't want to remember. If there was ever a time in your life where you were embarrassed and you didn't want to remember that moment but you couldn’t seem to forget it. This is an example of something that one may wish they could forget but it impacted their life that the brain stored it into a memory. Alzheimer’s is the definition of the loss of memories. If you are diagnosed with Alzheimer's, one slowly forgets the stored information in the brain until there isn't anything left. Some may have difficulty finishing sentences, may have short vague sentences, lose the ability to understand the meaning of words, have trouble keeping eye contact, and may forget the use of proper grammar.[1] Many don’t think about what their life would be like without memories; what would life be like if everything ever remembered was taken away and one could never get it back. Some take memories for granted. Memories need to be cherished because without out them, life would be a different story with a different ending.
- Eduardo Reflection #1 (posted RHS February 20 -- 171 February 22)
The purpose of this writing was to inform the audience of something that they might not think about on a daily basis. I meet this purpose by giving examples and asking questions to get the reader thinking about how their life could be different. My intended audience was anyone, I wrote speaking to the audience so that they were able to relate to the essay. The exigence that influenced the selection of my topic, would be having my grandpa diagnosed with Alzheimer's, it has always been an issue I have been interested in and like learning more about. I used a more informative tone in order to get the reader thinking about something they usually wouldn't.
Rylee,
I think that whenever you choose a topic that interests you that automatically makes you care more about your writing. It's great that you are using your writing as a way to show your interest and concern in Alzheimer's. As you go along working on your paper, I think you're going to find a lot of information that you'll find very interesting regarding Alzheimer's. I look forward to continue reading your work.
Eduardo
Rough Draft Comparison (posted RHS February 24 -- 171 February 26 )
Forgetting is something you don’t remember. Memories are something you can’t forget. Two completely different terms, yet we all have the ability to forget and remember. Forgetting the things we want to remember and remembering the things we want to forget. Seems like your either forget the little things or remember the important things that happen throughout your life. The important events that happen are the moments you remember the best. The little events are the ones that don’t mean anything and you forget it even happened.
Why do we forget? We forget certain moments, conversations, due dates, homework, people, places, and sometimes what’s most important all because we aren’t constantly thinking about them or it doesn’t impact our lives. Sometimes people get too caught up in the little things they forget what’s really important.
Why do we remember? We remember those important moments in life, when something makes an impact on your life. Remembering things you never want to forget and remembering things you do want to forget. Our brain allows us to store information that may lead us to remember things that happened in the past.
Forgetting and memories both impact our lives every day. Even if some don’t realize, forgetting something is as simple as remembering something. Forget the small things and remember what is important.
Revision Comparison (posted RHS March 2 -- 171 March 4) Forgetting is something you don’t remember. Memories are something you can’t forget. Two completely different terms, yet we all have the ability to forget and remember. Our brain allows us to store certain information, some is stored and some is deleted. Seems like your either forget the little things or remember the important things that happen throughout your life. You can’t pick or choose what to forget, but certain things may be important enough that the brain chooses to remember it. The important events that happen are the moments you remember the best. The little events are the ones that don’t mean anything and you forget it even happened.
Why do we forget? Sometimes the brain fails to store information, sometimes the brain automatically forgets things when our brain is working to remember information, other information can be lost, some believe that forgetting is motivated by interference, which some memories may interfere with one another. We forget certain moments, conversations, due dates, homework, people, places, and sometimes what’s most important all because we aren’t constantly thinking about them or it doesn’t impact our lives.
Why do we remember? We remember those important moments in life, when something makes an impact on you. Remembering things you never want to forget and remembering things you do want to forget. Sometimes the brain picks and chooses what to remember and what to forget; we have little control over what is remembered and what is forgotten. The brain selects certain things that impact or are important and stores those memories. The brain stores information by using senses to decide whether a memory is worth storing or not. Forgetting and memories both impact our lives every day. Even if some don’t realize, forgetting something is as simple as remembering something. Forget the small things and remember what is important. I believe that when someone gets too caught up with thinking about the little things that won’t impact their life, that they slowly forget what is really important. This goes back to the interference theory, because when you are thinking about the unimportant details in life it interferes with the important memories and can slowly replace them.
Final Comparison (posted RHS March 9 -- 171 March 11)
Forgetting is something you don’t remember. Memories are something you can’t forget. Two completely different terms, yet we all have the ability to forget and remember. Neurons sends signals to the brain to help remember something. Our brain allows us to store certain information, some is stored and some is deleted. Seems like your either forget the little things or remember the important things that happen throughout your life. You can’t pick or choose what to forget, but certain things may be important enough that the brain chooses to remember it. The important events that happen are the moments you remember the best. The little events are the ones that don’t mean anything and you forget it even happened. Why do we forget? Sometimes the brain fails to store information, sometimes the brain automatically forgets things when our brain is working to remember information, other information can be lost, some believe that forgetting is motivated by interference, which some memories may interfere with one another. The interference theory states that our brains are responsible for what is chosen to be remembered and what is chosen to be forgotten. We forget certain moments, conversations, due dates, homework, people, places, and sometimes what’s most important all because we aren’t thinking about them or it doesn’t impact our lives. Why do we remember? We remember those important moments in life, when something makes an impact on you. Remembering things you never want to forget and remembering things you do want to forget. Sometimes the brain picks and chooses what to remember and what to forget; we have little control over what is remembered and what is forgotten. The brain selects certain things that impact or are important and stores those memories.
Forgetting and memories both impact our lives every day. Even if some don’t realize, forgetting something is as simple as remembering something. Forget the small things and remember what is important. I believe that when someone gets too caught up with thinking about the little things that won’t impact their life, that they slowly forget what is really important. This goes back to the interference theory, because when you are thinking about the unimportant details in life it interferes with the important memories and can slowly replace them.
Eduardo- I apologize for posting this late! I have been really busy lately and I totally forgot to post! - Rylee
REVISED
Forgetting is something one doesn’t remember. Memories are something one can’t forget. Two completely different terms, yet we all have the ability to forget and remember. Forgetting the things we want to remember and remembering the things we want to forget. It seems to be one may either forget the little things or remember the important things that happen throughout one’s life. The important events that happen are the moments one remembers the best. The little events are the ones that don’t mean anything and one may forget it even happened.
Why do we forget? Sometimes the brain fails to store information, sometimes the brain automatically forgets things when our brain is working to remember information, other information can be lost. Some believe that forgetting is motivated by interference, which some memories may interfere with one another. The interference theory states that our brains are responsible for what is chosen to be remembered and what is chosen to be forgotten.[1]We forget certain moments, conversations, due dates, homework, people, places, and sometimes what is most important because we aren’t thinking about them or it doesn’t impact our lives. Sometimes people get too caught up in the little things they forget what’s really important.
Why do we remember? We remember those important moments in life, when something makes an impact on one’s life. Remembering things one may never want to forget and remembering things one may want to forget. Our brain allows us to store information that may lead us to remember things that happened in the past.
Forgetting and memories both impact our lives every day. Even if some don’t realize, forgetting something is as simple as remembering something. Forget the small things and remember what is important. I believe that when someone gets too caught up with thinking about the little things that won’t impact their life, that they slowly forget what is really important. This goes back to the interference theory, because when you are thinking about the unimportant details in life it interferes with the important memories and can slowly replace them.
Reflection #2 (RHS March 16 -- 171 March 25)
The purpose of this comparison essay was to compare and contrast the similarities and differences between remembering and forgetting. I think I did an okay job when comparing and contrasting, I believe I could have put more research into the paper. But otherwise, I think I touched on the main differences between the two.
Rylee,
In your last draft, you began explaining the main differences between the two a lot clearer. If you want to continue working on your draft, I agree. Adding research and background information will help support the differences you pointed out. I look forward to keep reading your work this semester.
Eduardo
Rough Draft Argument (posted RHS April 6 -- 171 April 8)
Hello Eduardo, I have been thinking about what to write about for a while and I just can't seem to figure out what to argue in my paper. I am trying to decide what i should write about, but i didn't want to post on here untill I have decided what to write, but I cannot seem to decide. With having Alzheimer's as my subject, how do you think I should argue that? I was thinking about maybe researching an issue that may involve Alzheimer's and expanding that into an arguement, but I wasn't sure! I apoligize that i haven't been keeping up witht the wiki. I seem to forget easy and I promise, I'll keep better track from here on. Thank you for all your help!
Hey Rylee,
I'm afraid I don't know the specific requirements of your assignment. That being said, if you are looking for something to argue about regarding Alzheimer's, you might consider arguing how Alzheimer's disease is just as damaging to an indivdual as cancer. Despite it not being fatal, what it does is it deterioriates a person's motor skill abilities and slowly tears apart the brain. You can go that route and make the argument that Alzheimer's is as bad as a disease as you can ever get. You could also do some research regarding how much money is invested in Alzheimer's research and try to argue why it is imperative to have more funding/research done on the topic. An interesting topic to research might be to talk about the rise of nursing homes in America and how that is tied directly to Alzheimer's. With this topic you can explore the difficulties and challenges of patient care and patient abuse. These are just some rough ideas I thought of. I hope this helps you out a little bit and please don't hesitate to message me or contact me if you are having trouble getting started. Happy Easter!
Eduardo
Revision Argument (posted RHS April 13 -- 171 April 15)
Hi Eduardo,
I again apoligize for posting so late! I have been having a lot of trouble coming up with what to write, this is more of my rough draft, i still am doing some more research to fill in the paragraphs.
Rylee
Alzheimer’s is the sixth- leading cause of death and the only cause of death among the top ten that cannot be prevented, cured, or slowed. (www. Alz.org) Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most damaging diseases to an individual. (Be more specific. What does it damage?) Even though Alzheimer’s is just as damaging as cancer (In what sense? Emotional, physical? How are you measuring damage?), Alzheimer’s is a disease that cannot be prevented or cured. As studies show 30% of cancers could be cured if detected early and treated adequately, unlike Alzheimer’s. (www.cancer.org)(Good, you are providing evidence for your claim. ) There is no current cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are treatments available to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.(What are some of the treatments that they use?) Some (Who? Use examples.) may believe that doing brain stimulating activities will prevent Alzheimer’s, although doing brain exercises may help keep the brain stimulated it does not prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a slow progressive disease and tends to worsen over time, all while destroying one’s brain and damaging one’s life. (How much does it "worsen" over time? Is is the same for every person? Are there different types of Alzheimers, more or less severe types?)
Rylee,
You can definitely use some of this information to get you going into your final paper. You need to be more specific and clarify what exactly does Alzheimers damage. Talking about different types of Alzheimer's and different treatments is relevant to give context to the reader. This information is necessary for your topic. When you say "Some believe," it would be helpful if you gave specific names or research institutions that back up your claim. I know it's hard to figure out what you want to write about sometimes, but this is a good start. I look forward to discussing your paper with you tomorrow.
Eduardo
Final Argument (posted RHS April 20 -- 171 April 23)
Alzheimer’s is the sixth- leading cause of death and the only cause of death among the top ten that cannot be prevented, cured, or slowed. (www. Alz.org) Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most damaging diseases to an individual. Alzheimer’s doesn’t only affect your brain but also affects one’s life. (What specific parts of the brain does it affect? What aspects of their lifes are affected by it?)
Even though Alzheimer’s is just as damaging as cancer (In what sense is it just as damaging?), Alzheimer’s is a disease that cannot be prevented or cured. Damage is not only measured emotionally but also physically.(How do you measure this damage? You could insert some research here) Emotionally, Alzheimer’s has some effect on someone, as they may not even realize they have the disease. Physically, Alzheimer’s slowly damages the brain causing one to forget. Studies show 30% of cancers could be cured if detected early and treated adequately, unlike Alzheimer’s. (www.cancer.org) (Good statistic, could you add more relevant data to accompany the paragraph?)
There is no current cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are treatments available to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. (What are some of these activities? What are the different types of treatments and what are the pros and cons?) Some who aren’t familiar with the disease may believe that doing brain stimulating activities will prevent Alzheimer’s, although doing brain exercises may help keep the brain stimulated it does not prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a slow progressive disease and tends to worsen over time, by slowly killing the brain cells that help us remember different things.(Good info, do these brain cells have a specific name?) It is different for everyone person living with the disease, some may progress faster than others and some may progress slower. This all happens while destroying one’s brain and damaging one’s life. (Do you know why someone's disease progresses faster in some cases?
Rylee,
You've added a couple of details that help your writing assignment. For example, the mention of stimulating activities to the brain or the statistic on cancer. These details give a lot of context to your assignment. There are some instances where I think you could be more specific. For example in the first paragraph adding what specific parts of the brain are affected by Alzheimer's. In the second paragraph, you could add more information on how you measure the damage caused by the disease. Lastly, I thought it was super interesting how you mentioned the brain stimulation activities and I want to know more about specific treatments or specific ways of thinking. Let me know if you have questions.
Eduardo
Reflection #3 (posted RHS April 23) I believe this essay could have been stronger in some areas, but I have more of a difficult time figuring out what to argue and also how to argue it. I feel i can make this piece stronger by researching and coming up with a stronger arguement.
Good luck working with your essay, Rylee. I enjoyed working with you throughout the semester. Have a good summer.
Dear Eduardo,
My name is Rylee Knutson, I am currently a junior at Roosevelt High School. I live in Des Moines and have since I was born. I come from a family of four, my parents, my younger sister, and myself. My parents both work at Prinicipal Financial Group Downtown. I have a younger sister who is 13 and is in 7th grade at Merrill Middle School. I am involved in Environmental Club at Rooselvelt, where we recycle and think of ideas to improve the community. I am also involved in R Club at Roosevelt. R Club is a student service group, where we set up school spirit activities and also think of ideas to better the community through service, we do a lot of volunteer work. I also participate in tennis, I like to play for fun, I am not competitive in the sport. In my past, I have always enjoyed my english classes as well as writing and reading. I have troubles thinking of what to write, that is my main struggle and also making my essays flow together and I am hoping you might help me with improving that. I look forward to hearing your feedback as well as improving my writing skills and vocabulary so I can become a better writer for the future.
I am excited to start writing and thank you for helping me along the way!
Sincerely,
Rylee Knutson
Hello Rylee.
My name is Eduardo Tamez Zamarripa. I really appreciated your letter and I'm looking forward to meeting you. That's great that you are being involved in the community. When I was in high school I was involved with NHS and it was a really valuable experience for me. I really enjoy playing tennis as well, but I never played it growing up. I picked it up here with my roommate at Drake and discovered how much fun it is to play tennis. Well, the first thing you should know about me is that I'm from Monterrey, Mexico. I lived there all my life before coming to Drake when I was 18. Monterrey is one of the biggest cities in Mexico. I am a junior double-majoring in News Internet Journalism and English, and I also have a minor in Politics. I love sports and I love playing sports. I played basketball from 1st grade-12th grade. So pretty much all my life. I still play pick-up basketball and intramural basketball all the time. I'm involved in a lot of different things around campus. I'm the Sports Editor for our school newspaper, The Times Delphic. You can check us up online and see some of the work that we do. I'm also the President of the Society of Professional Journalists, the journalism professional fraternity. I also work for the Iowa Sports Connection as a writer for their magazine and as a TV Producer. But enough about me, you will have plenty of time to get to know me. I think you are making a great decision by challenging yourself and being in AP English. Back home I took AP English Literature and Language, as well as AP Spanish Literature. You have plenty of time to keep working on your writing. I always felt that I came alive as a writer my senior year in high school, so you are way ahead of schedule. I'm proud to be part of this program and I look forward to helping you improve your writing. You have to remember that the only way to improve as a writer is to write and as long as your writing and working on your craft, you will see drastic changes. Have a great weekend and I will see you soon.
Eduardo
Personal Reflection on Topic of Inquiry(posted RHS January 27 -- 171 January 29)
Something I am very passionate about would revolve around Alzheimer’s disease. My grandpa was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s many years ago. I have been around the disease for quite a while now. It has been a struggle, but I have learned to that there is no way to fix it now. I would like to spread awareness to the disease, because many people become diagnosed and it isn’t something that you can fix. When I was younger, I was always really confused on why my grandpa never called me by first name, I then was told what was happening to him. I still didn’t understand why it had to happen, but it did.
Through the years, it has been tough for my family, especially my grandma, but we all seem to work through and make each other stronger. My grandpa has had his up’s and down’s but he always has a good attitude about things, which makes it easier on everyone else. He has always been good at acting, and that is exactly what he does when a big group of strangers come into his room, he acts like he knows each and every one of us. I am very proud of my grandpa and everything that he has accomplished and how he reacts to things.
Not only has my grandpa been affected by Alzheimer's but my next door neighbor has also. My neighbor has lived in the house next to mine for about two years, he was diagnosed with Dementia about a year and a half ago and it has been a spiral downhill from there. He has changed so much in the past year, it is almost unbelievable. He went from a social and fun person to someone who doesn't say anything and doesn't know whats going on. He has trouble catching onto conversations and following through with them. He tends to wander and sometimes he can get lost in his own thoughts and doesn't know anything.
Seeing these two people, who are very close to me, be affected with Alzheimer's makes me want to change the way others, who don't know anything about the disease, think about the disease. I would like to inform many others on the affects of Alzheimer's and what actually happens in the brain and to share personal experiences with others to help better understand how Alzheimer's affects more than just the people who have the disease.
Alzheimer’s Awareness is something that could change how people look at the disease. Many questions run through my head when I think about it. Can this problem be solved? Will it ever get better? These are some questions that a lot of people might ask. I would like to aware people of the many challenges that come with the disease. It is not something to joke about, because it affects a lot of people around the world. Not only does the disease affect the person living with the disease but it also affects the people who surround that person. So the big question is “Can this disease be fixed? Can spreading awareness help find a cure?
I tried to paste it on but it wouldn't let me! The attachment should work though.
-Eduardo
Rough Draft Definition (posted RHS February 3 -- 171 February 5)
Memories are something that everyone carries with them throughout their lives. Memories help form who we are today. What if your ability to remember things was taken away without notice? What if you couldn’t remember what you did last week or even just an hour ago? Being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s means losing the ability remember any memories. Everything that made you who you are is taken away and there is no way to stop or prevent it.
Memories are important in everyday life; they allow you to remember important life events. Memories are something you can’t control. You can’t control remembering the important things that impact your life. For some, memories are like a movie that you can replay in your head; some good and some bad. Without memories, childhood would be something that never existed, what you did yesterday wouldn't matter because you wouldn't remember. With Alzheimer's everyday is a struggle, pretending to remember things, when you don't even know who you are. Not having memories would change life as we know it. Remembering the past is something nobody would want taken away from them, but for some theres no way to stop it from happening.
Memories aren’t only things remembered from the past, but it is what helps you remember faces, names, and places. Some don’t realize memories are used every second of everyday. Memories are what allow you to be able to speak. Without any memories, you wouldn't be able to remember what to say or even any words that describe how your feelings. Memories are stronger than you think, they have the power to recall past events of your life that you never want to forget or for some you didn't want to remember.
Alzheimer’s is the definition of loss of memories. Many don’t think about what their life would be like without memories. What would life be like if everything you ever remembered was taken away and you could never get it back.Some take memories for granted. Memories need to be cherished because without out them, life would be a different story with a different ending.
http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/788930/what_are_memories_made_of/
http://psychology.about.com/od/cognitivepsychology/a/memory.htm
http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/memory
http://www.kplu.org/post/what-are-memories-and-whats-brain-doing-them
http://esciencenews.com/sources/the.guardian.science/2012/01/13/what.are.memories.made
- Eduardo
Revision Definition (posted RHS February 10 -- 171 February 12 )
Memories are something that everyone carries with them throughout their lives. They help form who we are. What if your ability to remember things was taken away without notice? What if you couldn’t remember what you did last week or even just an hour ago? Being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s means losing the ability to remember any memories. Everything that made you who you are is taken away and there is no way to stop or prevent it.
Memories are important in everyday life; they allow you to remember important life events. They are something you can’t control. You can’t control remembering the important things that impact your life. For some, memories are like movies that you can replay in your head; some good and some bad. Without them, childhood would be something that never existed, what you did yesterday wouldn't matter because you wouldn't remember. With Alzheimer's every day is a struggle, pretending to remember things, when you don't even know who you are. Imagine not knowing who you are, not knowing your own name, where you are, not being able to remember anything from the past. This is what living with Alzheimer’s is like. Remembering the past is something nobody would want taken away from them, but for some there’s no way to stop it from happening.
Memories aren’t only things remembered from the past, but it is what helps you remember faces, names, and places. Some don’t realize memories are used every second of everyday. They are what allow you to be able to speak. Without any memories, you wouldn't be able to remember what to say or even any words that describe your feelings. Memories are stronger than you think; they have the power to recall past events of your life that you never want to forget or for some you didn't want to remember.
Alzheimer’s is the definition of the loss of memories. Many don’t think about what their life would be like without memories; what would life be like if everything you ever remembered was taken away and you could never get it back. Some take memories for granted. Memories need to be cherished because without out them, life would be a different story with a different ending.
- Eduardo
Final Definition (posted RHS February 17 -- 171 February 19 )
Memories are something that everyone carries with them throughout their lives. They help form who we are. A memory is an ability to store and process information throughout the brain. What if your ability to remember things was taken away without notice? What if you couldn’t remember what you did last week or even just an hour ago? Imagine your life without memories, nothing would ever be the same. Being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s means losing the ability to remember any memories. Everything that made you who you are is taken away and there is no way to stop or prevent it. A memory is an ability to store and process information throughout the brain.
Memories are important in everyday life; they allow you to remember important life events. They are something you can’t control. You can’t control remembering the important things that impact your life. For some, memories are like movies that you can replay in your head; some good and some bad. Without them, childhood would be something that never existed, what you did yesterday wouldn't matter because you wouldn't remember. With Alzheimer's every day is a struggle, pretending to remember things, when you don't even know who you are. Imagine not knowing who you are, not knowing your own name, where you are, not being able to remember anything from the past. This is what living with Alzheimer’s is like. Remembering the past is something nobody would want taken away from them, but for some there’s no way to stop it from happening.
Memories isn't only something remembered from the past, but it is what helps you remember faces, names, and places. Some don’t realize memories are used every second of everyday. They are what allow you to be able to speak. If you didn't have memories you would not be able to remember words or phrases that you use in everyday life.Without any memories, you wouldn't be able to remember what to say or even any words that describe your feelings. Speaking is something almost everyone is accustom to, but if you are diagnosed with Alzheimer's, you slowly forget the stored information in you brain untill there isn't anything left. You slowly lose your vocabulary and don't remember how to express yourself. Memories are stronger than you think; they have the power to recall past events of your life that you never want to forget or for some you didn't want to remember. If there was ever a time in your life where you were embarrassed and you didn't want to remember but you couldn't help but do just that. This is an example of something you wish you could forget but it impacted you life that the brain stored it into a memory.
Alzheimer’s is the definition of the loss of memories. Many don’t think about what their life would be like without memories; what would life be like if everything you ever remembered was taken away and you could never get it back. Some take memories for granted. Memories need to be cherished because without out them, life would be a different story with a different ending
REVISED
Memories are something that everyone carries with them throughout their lives. They help form who we are. Remembering is the ability to store and process information throughout the brain. What if the ability to remember things was taken away without notice? What if you couldn’t remember what you did last week or even just an hour ago? Being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s means losing the ability to remember any memories. Everything that makes a person who they are can be taken away, and there is no way to stop or prevent it.
Memories are significant in everyday life; they allow someone to remember important life events. They are something one can’t control. Someone can’t control remembering the important things that impact their life. For some, memories are like movies that replay in your head; some good and some bad. Without them, childhood would be something that never existed, what someone did yesterday wouldn't matter because they wouldn't remember. With Alzheimer's every day is a struggle, pretending to remember things, when someone don't even know who they are. Imagine not knowing who you are, not knowing your own name, where you are, not being able to remember anything from the past. This is what living with Alzheimer’s is like. Remembering the past is something nobody would want taken away from them, but for some there’s no way to stop it from happening.
Memories aren’t only something remembered from the past, but it is what helps you remember faces, names, and places. Some don’t realize memories are used every second of everyday. They are what allow you to be able to speak. If you didn't have memories you would not be able to remember words or phrases that you use in everyday life. Without any memories, you wouldn't be able to remember what to say or even any words that describe your feelings. Speaking is something almost everyone is accustomed to. Memories are stronger than one may think; they have the power to recall past events of one’s life that they never want to forget or for some didn't want to remember. If there was ever a time in your life where you were embarrassed and you didn't want to remember that moment but you couldn’t seem to forget it. This is an example of something that one may wish they could forget but it impacted their life that the brain stored it into a memory.
Alzheimer’s is the definition of the loss of memories. If you are diagnosed with Alzheimer's, one slowly forgets the stored information in the brain until there isn't anything left. Some may have difficulty finishing sentences, may have short vague sentences, lose the ability to understand the meaning of words, have trouble keeping eye contact, and may forget the use of proper grammar.[1] Many don’t think about what their life would be like without memories; what would life be like if everything ever remembered was taken away and one could never get it back. Some take memories for granted. Memories need to be cherished because without out them, life would be a different story with a different ending.
[1] http://alzheimers.about.com/od/symptomsofalzheimers/a/symptoms.htm
- Eduardo
Reflection #1 (posted RHS February 20 -- 171 February 22)
The purpose of this writing was to inform the audience of something that they might not think about on a daily basis. I meet this purpose by giving examples and asking questions to get the reader thinking about how their life could be different. My intended audience was anyone, I wrote speaking to the audience so that they were able to relate to the essay. The exigence that influenced the selection of my topic, would be having my grandpa diagnosed with Alzheimer's, it has always been an issue I have been interested in and like learning more about. I used a more informative tone in order to get the reader thinking about something they usually wouldn't.
Rylee,
I think that whenever you choose a topic that interests you that automatically makes you care more about your writing. It's great that you are using your writing as a way to show your interest and concern in Alzheimer's. As you go along working on your paper, I think you're going to find a lot of information that you'll find very interesting regarding Alzheimer's. I look forward to continue reading your work.
Eduardo
Rough Draft Comparison (posted RHS February 24 -- 171 February 26 )
Forgetting is something you don’t remember. Memories are something you can’t forget. Two completely different terms, yet we all have the ability to forget and remember. Forgetting the things we want to remember and remembering the things we want to forget. Seems like your either forget the little things or remember the important things that happen throughout your life. The important events that happen are the moments you remember the best. The little events are the ones that don’t mean anything and you forget it even happened.
Why do we forget? We forget certain moments, conversations, due dates, homework, people, places, and sometimes what’s most important all because we aren’t constantly thinking about them or it doesn’t impact our lives. Sometimes people get too caught up in the little things they forget what’s really important.
Why do we remember? We remember those important moments in life, when something makes an impact on your life. Remembering things you never want to forget and remembering things you do want to forget. Our brain allows us to store information that may lead us to remember things that happened in the past.
Forgetting and memories both impact our lives every day. Even if some don’t realize, forgetting something is as simple as remembering something. Forget the small things and remember what is important.
-Eduardo
Revision Comparison (posted RHS March 2 -- 171 March 4)
Forgetting is something you don’t remember. Memories are something you can’t forget. Two completely different terms, yet we all have the ability to forget and remember. Our brain allows us to store certain information, some is stored and some is deleted. Seems like your either forget the little things or remember the important things that happen throughout your life. You can’t pick or choose what to forget, but certain things may be important enough that the brain chooses to remember it. The important events that happen are the moments you remember the best. The little events are the ones that don’t mean anything and you forget it even happened.
Why do we forget? Sometimes the brain fails to store information, sometimes the brain automatically forgets things when our brain is working to remember information, other information can be lost, some believe that forgetting is motivated by interference, which some memories may interfere with one another. We forget certain moments, conversations, due dates, homework, people, places, and sometimes what’s most important all because we aren’t constantly thinking about them or it doesn’t impact our lives.
Why do we remember? We remember those important moments in life, when something makes an impact on you. Remembering things you never want to forget and remembering things you do want to forget. Sometimes the brain picks and chooses what to remember and what to forget; we have little control over what is remembered and what is forgotten. The brain selects certain things that impact or are important and stores those memories. The brain stores information by using senses to decide whether a memory is worth storing or not.
Forgetting and memories both impact our lives every day. Even if some don’t realize, forgetting something is as simple as remembering something. Forget the small things and remember what is important. I believe that when someone gets too caught up with thinking about the little things that won’t impact their life, that they slowly forget what is really important. This goes back to the interference theory, because when you are thinking about the unimportant details in life it interferes with the important memories and can slowly replace them.
Final Comparison (posted RHS March 9 -- 171 March 11)
Forgetting is something you don’t remember. Memories are something you can’t forget. Two completely different terms, yet we all have the ability to forget and remember. Neurons sends signals to the brain to help remember something. Our brain allows us to store certain information, some is stored and some is deleted. Seems like your either forget the little things or remember the important things that happen throughout your life. You can’t pick or choose what to forget, but certain things may be important enough that the brain chooses to remember it. The important events that happen are the moments you remember the best. The little events are the ones that don’t mean anything and you forget it even happened.
Why do we forget? Sometimes the brain fails to store information, sometimes the brain automatically forgets things when our brain is working to remember information, other information can be lost, some believe that forgetting is motivated by interference, which some memories may interfere with one another. The interference theory states that our brains are responsible for what is chosen to be remembered and what is chosen to be forgotten. We forget certain moments, conversations, due dates, homework, people, places, and sometimes what’s most important all because we aren’t thinking about them or it doesn’t impact our lives.
Why do we remember? We remember those important moments in life, when something makes an impact on you. Remembering things you never want to forget and remembering things you do want to forget. Sometimes the brain picks and chooses what to remember and what to forget; we have little control over what is remembered and what is forgotten. The brain selects certain things that impact or are important and stores those memories.
Forgetting and memories both impact our lives every day. Even if some don’t realize, forgetting something is as simple as remembering something. Forget the small things and remember what is important. I believe that when someone gets too caught up with thinking about the little things that won’t impact their life, that they slowly forget what is really important. This goes back to the interference theory, because when you are thinking about the unimportant details in life it interferes with the important memories and can slowly replace them.
Eduardo-
I apologize for posting this late! I have been really busy lately and I totally forgot to post!
- Rylee
REVISED
Forgetting is something one doesn’t remember. Memories are something one can’t forget. Two completely different terms, yet we all have the ability to forget and remember. Forgetting the things we want to remember and remembering the things we want to forget. It seems to be one may either forget the little things or remember the important things that happen throughout one’s life. The important events that happen are the moments one remembers the best. The little events are the ones that don’t mean anything and one may forget it even happened.
Why do we forget? Sometimes the brain fails to store information, sometimes the brain automatically forgets things when our brain is working to remember information, other information can be lost. Some believe that forgetting is motivated by interference, which some memories may interfere with one another. The interference theory states that our brains are responsible for what is chosen to be remembered and what is chosen to be forgotten.[1]We forget certain moments, conversations, due dates, homework, people, places, and sometimes what is most important because we aren’t thinking about them or it doesn’t impact our lives. Sometimes people get too caught up in the little things they forget what’s really important.
Why do we remember? We remember those important moments in life, when something makes an impact on one’s life. Remembering things one may never want to forget and remembering things one may want to forget. Our brain allows us to store information that may lead us to remember things that happened in the past.
Forgetting and memories both impact our lives every day. Even if some don’t realize, forgetting something is as simple as remembering something. Forget the small things and remember what is important. I believe that when someone gets too caught up with thinking about the little things that won’t impact their life, that they slowly forget what is really important. This goes back to the interference theory, because when you are thinking about the unimportant details in life it interferes with the important memories and can slowly replace them.
[1] http://psychology.about.com/od/cognitivepsychology/tp/explanations-for-forgetting.htm
Reflection #2 (RHS March 16 -- 171 March 25)
The purpose of this comparison essay was to compare and contrast the similarities and differences between remembering and forgetting. I think I did an okay job when comparing and contrasting, I believe I could have put more research into the paper. But otherwise, I think I touched on the main differences between the two.
Rylee,
In your last draft, you began explaining the main differences between the two a lot clearer. If you want to continue working on your draft, I agree. Adding research and background information will help support the differences you pointed out. I look forward to keep reading your work this semester.
Eduardo
Rough Draft Argument (posted RHS April 6 -- 171 April 8)
Hello Eduardo, I have been thinking about what to write about for a while and I just can't seem to figure out what to argue in my paper. I am trying to decide what i should write about, but i didn't want to post on here untill I have decided what to write, but I cannot seem to decide. With having Alzheimer's as my subject, how do you think I should argue that? I was thinking about maybe researching an issue that may involve Alzheimer's and expanding that into an arguement, but I wasn't sure! I apoligize that i haven't been keeping up witht the wiki. I seem to forget easy and I promise, I'll keep better track from here on. Thank you for all your help!
Hey Rylee,
I'm afraid I don't know the specific requirements of your assignment. That being said, if you are looking for something to argue about regarding Alzheimer's, you might consider arguing how Alzheimer's disease is just as damaging to an indivdual as cancer. Despite it not being fatal, what it does is it deterioriates a person's motor skill abilities and slowly tears apart the brain. You can go that route and make the argument that Alzheimer's is as bad as a disease as you can ever get. You could also do some research regarding how much money is invested in Alzheimer's research and try to argue why it is imperative to have more funding/research done on the topic. An interesting topic to research might be to talk about the rise of nursing homes in America and how that is tied directly to Alzheimer's. With this topic you can explore the difficulties and challenges of patient care and patient abuse. These are just some rough ideas I thought of. I hope this helps you out a little bit and please don't hesitate to message me or contact me if you are having trouble getting started. Happy Easter!
Eduardo
Revision Argument (posted RHS April 13 -- 171 April 15)
Hi Eduardo,
I again apoligize for posting so late! I have been having a lot of trouble coming up with what to write, this is more of my rough draft, i still am doing some more research to fill in the paragraphs.
Rylee
Alzheimer’s is the sixth- leading cause of death and the only cause of death among the top ten that cannot be prevented, cured, or slowed. (www. Alz.org) Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most damaging diseases to an individual. (Be more specific. What does it damage?)
Even though Alzheimer’s is just as damaging as cancer (In what sense? Emotional, physical? How are you measuring damage?), Alzheimer’s is a disease that cannot be prevented or cured. As studies show 30% of cancers could be cured if detected early and treated adequately, unlike Alzheimer’s. (www.cancer.org)(Good, you are providing evidence for your claim. )
There is no current cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are treatments available to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.(What are some of the treatments that they use?) Some (Who? Use examples.) may believe that doing brain stimulating activities will prevent Alzheimer’s, although doing brain exercises may help keep the brain stimulated it does not prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s is a slow progressive disease and tends to worsen over time, all while destroying one’s brain and damaging one’s life. (How much does it "worsen" over time? Is is the same for every person? Are there different types of Alzheimers, more or less severe types?)
Rylee,
You can definitely use some of this information to get you going into your final paper. You need to be more specific and clarify what exactly does Alzheimers damage. Talking about different types of Alzheimer's and different treatments is relevant to give context to the reader. This information is necessary for your topic. When you say "Some believe," it would be helpful if you gave specific names or research institutions that back up your claim. I know it's hard to figure out what you want to write about sometimes, but this is a good start. I look forward to discussing your paper with you tomorrow.Eduardo
Final Argument (posted RHS April 20 -- 171 April 23)
Alzheimer’s is the sixth- leading cause of death and the only cause of death among the top ten that cannot be prevented, cured, or slowed. (www. Alz.org) Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most damaging diseases to an individual. Alzheimer’s doesn’t only affect your brain but also affects one’s life. (What specific parts of the brain does it affect? What aspects of their lifes are affected by it?)
Even though Alzheimer’s is just as damaging as cancer (In what sense is it just as damaging?), Alzheimer’s is a disease that cannot be prevented or cured. Damage is not only measured emotionally but also physically.(How do you measure this damage? You could insert some research here) Emotionally, Alzheimer’s has some effect on someone, as they may not even realize they have the disease. Physically, Alzheimer’s slowly damages the brain causing one to forget. Studies show 30% of cancers could be cured if detected early and treated adequately, unlike Alzheimer’s. (www.cancer.org) (Good statistic, could you add more relevant data to accompany the paragraph?)
There is no current cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are treatments available to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. (What are some of these activities? What are the different types of treatments and what are the pros and cons?) Some who aren’t familiar with the disease may believe that doing brain stimulating activities will prevent Alzheimer’s, although doing brain exercises may help keep the brain stimulated it does not prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s is a slow progressive disease and tends to worsen over time, by slowly killing the brain cells that help us remember different things.(Good info, do these brain cells have a specific name?) It is different for everyone person living with the disease, some may progress faster than others and some may progress slower. This all happens while destroying one’s brain and damaging one’s life. (Do you know why someone's disease progresses faster in some cases?
Rylee,
You've added a couple of details that help your writing assignment. For example, the mention of stimulating activities to the brain or the statistic on cancer. These details give a lot of context to your assignment. There are some instances where I think you could be more specific. For example in the first paragraph adding what specific parts of the brain are affected by Alzheimer's. In the second paragraph, you could add more information on how you measure the damage caused by the disease. Lastly, I thought it was super interesting how you mentioned the brain stimulation activities and I want to know more about specific treatments or specific ways of thinking. Let me know if you have questions.
Eduardo
Reflection #3 (posted RHS April 23)
I believe this essay could have been stronger in some areas, but I have more of a difficult time figuring out what to argue and also how to argue it. I feel i can make this piece stronger by researching and coming up with a stronger arguement.
Good luck working with your essay, Rylee. I enjoyed working with you throughout the semester. Have a good summer.